Powerful Koch gives Meyer another option

Rudolph Jacobs

One of the success stories of this year’s Super Rugby competition has undoubtedly been that of muscular Stormers prop Vincent Koch (right).

Loaned from the Pumas as a virtually unknown player at loosehead, the Stormers used him as tighthead after the departures of Brok Harris and Pat Cilliers to overseas clubs.

But since his swift transition to tighthead he has everyone talk- ing to such an extent that he must have incumbent Springbok props Jannie du Plessis, Frans Malherbe and Coenie Oosthuizen looking over their shoulders.

Other candidates for World Cup selection at tighthead include Julian Redelinghuys, Marcel van der Merwe, Ruan Dreyer and Trevor Nyakane, who can play both sides.

Bok coach Heyneke Meyer, who had worked with Koch as a youngster at the Bulls, also admitted he had been impressed with Koch.

“When I took over we had troubles at tighthead, but now we have troubles keeping them in the country, because overseas clubs are looking at our youngsters,” Meyer said during this week’s Bok training camp.

“A guy like Vincent Koch I also coached as a youngster, as a loosehead, and he has been brilliant since moving to tighthead,” said Meyer, who will take six props to the showpiece in England, three looseheads and three tightheads.

Koch, 25, played his youth rugby for the Blue Bulls in 2009 and 2010 and for Tuks in 2011 and 2012, before moving to the Pumas three years ago where he will return to the Currie Cup competition.

Although Meyer is bound to stick to the tried-and-trusted, he has left the backdoor open for inform players like Koch and even Bulls fullback Jesse Kriel.

“There are always guys who come in late, but a guy like Jesse Kriel has always been training with us. He was very close to selection last year,” said Meyer. “I’ve never believed in a pecking order and I believe the best must go to the World Cup.”